[GSA Council] Important: Upcoming General Assembly

Fri Mar 16 06:24:55 PDT 2018

Hi Nura,

Thank you so much for brining this to our attention. I have several comments/ questions:

- Were the members of the GA aware of these issues?
- Why has the agenda not been sent?
- Agree, if we postpone the GA but enough people are available, we should still use that slot for the council meeting.
- I know that interim directors will be elected during the GA, but it looks extremely bad for us if not enough people know about these elections to (1) present themselves as a candidate and (2) vote. From the outside, this may look like we are favouring certain people who are close enough to us to know about the elections without needing to resort to online and paper publications.
- if you need our approval to be the Chairperson, can we do an online vote? (And do you even want to do it?)

Kindly, 

Angelica Restrepo

> On Mar 15, 2018, at 11:05 PM, Mohd Azam Khan <khan.azam.mohd at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Nura,
> 
> Previous year chair was the person who was doing it. If you need our consent, we can provide. 
> 
> If we need to give 10 days time for compliance,  we can push the meeting in last week of March. I am not sure, can we book another room now for later date. Also,I am not sure why GA agenda is not prepared till now. 
> 
> Thank you for pointing out compliance issues.
> 
> Regards,
> Azam
> 
>> On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 10:51 PM Nura Jabagi <nurajabagi at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Dear GSA Executives and Directors,
>> 
>> I have recently reviewed the GSA bylaws in preparation for the General Assembly that has been scheduled for March 23rd.
>> 
>> Having done so, and pursuant to a discussion with Carlos, I must bring to attention several issues regarding this upcoming meeting. These issues (listed with explanations below) require the immediate attention of the GSA Council. 
>> 
>> Moreover, as a consequence, I must withdraw myself as Chair for the General Assembly.
>> 
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 
>> Article XIX – General Meetings
>> 
>> 2. General Assemblies shall be chaired by the President. The secretary shall be chosen from Staff Positions.
>> 
>> 2.1. With consent or by direction of Council the President can appoint another G.S.A. member totake on the role of Chairperson.
>> 
>> ** To my knowledge, and Carlos', there has been neither consent nor direction by Council that I be appointed as Chairperson. 
>> 
>> 3. The Agenda for the General Assembly
>> 
>> 3.1. The Agenda for the General Assembly a) Shall be drafted by a General Assembly Committee, the latter of which shall consist of the Executive Committee members, and three members of  Council representing three out of four faculties...
>> 
>> 3.2. Is subject to ratification by Council and requires 2/3 assent of the voting councilors present.
>> 
>> 3.3. Will be ratified and made available to the G.S.A. members at least five (5) calendar days prior to the General Assembly.
>> 3.3.1. In printed form in the G.S.A. reception area.
>> 3.3.2. In electronic format on the G.S.A. website.
>> 
>> **  As we have not had a meeting, I believe that there is no General Assembly agenda that has been created and/or ratified. If this is still in the process, please note that Monday 18th is the last possible day for us/you to have a meeting to ratify said agenda. (It should be noted that this seems impossible since we are still waiting on individuals to even provide availability for the March meeting via Doodle).
>> 
>> If such an agenda has already been created (and of course, ratified), it must be disseminated on the website and the GSA reception. I have not seen the agenda in either places, nor have two GSA members who have approached me regarding the GA.
>> 
>> 4. The Notice of General Assembly shall be made at least ten (10) calendar days in advance.
>> 
>> **  The GSA email sent regarding the GA was sent to students on March 14th. This does not meet the 10 calendar day minimum.
>> 
>> 5. The Notice will consist of:
>> 
>> 5.1. An email to all G.S.A. members to the address currently on file with Concordia University.
>> 5.2. A posting on the home website of G.S.A.
>> 5.3. A notice of meeting placed in the student newspapers.
>> 5.4. Any additional methods of communication the Council approves.
>> 
>> **  Again I have not seen a posting on the home website of the GSA, and to my knowledge nothing has been placed in the student newspapers. 
>> 
>> --------------
>> 
>> These are the most pressing issues which make the currently scheduled GA not in compliance with the GSA bylaws. As Chair, I must bring these to your attention. Moreover, I feel compelled to mention that after speaking with more than a few GSA members, most students are not aware of this GA taking place. Disregarding other issues, if we focus just on the facts that the meeting is not in compliance nor sufficiently publicized, I think the GSA should strongly reconsider its position regarding holding this meeting.
>> 
>> I may further suggest that if a sufficient amount of GSA council members are indeed free on March 23rd (as I might imagine/hope, given it is the GA), that you hold the regular march meeting during that slot, and that you postpone the GA enough days to be in compliance with the above articles.
>> 
>> Regards,
>> 
>> -- 
>> Nura Jabagi, MBA
>> PhD Candidate | Business Technology Management
>> John Molson School of Business
>> Vice President, John Molson Doctoral Student Society
>> Présidente, Fondation de la Chambre de Commerce Canada-Liban
>> linkedin.com/in/nurajabagi
>> 
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> -- 
> Best Regards,
> M. Azam Khan
> JMSB Director
> (Graduate Student Association)
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